In this activity, students will examine the author’s point of view in The Little Prince and identify ways this view is unique in understanding elements of the story. While the story focuses on the adventures of the Prince and the Aviator, it's told from the perspective of the narrator, who relates these adventures to us as the reader.
As an extended activity, ask students to think about what the story would be like if it was told from a different point of view. Students can retell a scene or even the entire story from the point of view of the Prince!
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Student Instructions
Engage students by inviting them to discuss how stories change when told from different points of view. Use open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking and deeper understanding.
Select a scene everyone knows well, like the Prince meeting the Fox. This ensures all students have the necessary context to succeed and can focus on perspective rather than recalling plot.
Have students work individually or in small groups to retell the scene from the viewpoint of another character, such as the Fox or even an object in the story. This builds empathy and creative writing skills.
Invite each group or student to present their version aloud. Facilitate a discussion about how the point of view affects what details are included and how the story feels to the audience.
Lead a short reflection about how authors' choices influence reader understanding and engagement. Encourage students to think about why the narrator’s perspective in The Little Prince is important.
The Little Prince is primarily told from the first-person perspective of the narrator, who shares his own experiences and observations, often addressing both the reader and the other characters directly.
The narrator's unique perspective lets readers see events through his eyes, highlighting his feelings, interpretations, and personal connections with the Prince and Aviator, which deepens our emotional engagement with the story.
Retelling the story from another point of view, such as the Prince’s, encourages critical thinking and creativity, helping students understand how perspective shapes narrative and meaning.
Look for first-person pronouns, direct addresses to the reader or other characters, and passages where the narrator shares personal thoughts or feelings—these are clues to identifying narrative perspective.
Teachers can have students retell scenes from different perspectives, create illustrations, and discuss how each viewpoint changes the story, making lessons interactive and memorable.